The Department of Transport has confirmed a bus accident that led to the injury of 22 Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) supporters in Vryheid, northern KwaZulu-Natal, on Sunday morning. The Department said road traffic inspectorate officers are investigating the actual cause of the accident.

BEAT STOP SIGN

KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC Siboniso Duma said preliminary reports suggest the bus driver transporting the party supporters from Gauteng to Ulundi for the IFP's 50th-anniversary event failed to navigate a stop sign. "I am awaiting a full report on this. They are checking what might have disturbed them. It might be different causes," he said. "We wouldn't want to pre-empt. We are just going to wait for a proper report at the end of the day. What we are delighted about is that there are no fatalities."

NECESSARY SUPPORT

IFP spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said four people were rushed to hospital around 6 am while the other supporters were treated by medics on the scene. "The leadership of Gauteng has gone to see our comrades, and the leadership of Abaqulusi constituency are on site to offer the necessary support." He added that they want to reiterate to all the drivers and users of the transport to Ulundi to exercise maximum care and vigilance on the roads to make sure that everyone is safe.